Pool report from Boone: POTUS stopped in this picturesque college town that is home to Appalachian State University…. he worked his way through the Mast General Store …. its major selling point appeared to be tubs of candy, and the sales clerk helped guide POTUS through the confectionery paradise.

As he made his way toward the press, Peter Nicholas of the LA Times said to him: “You won’t find this in the White House garden, Mr. President.”

“On Halloween, the First Lady doesn’t mind,” he replied, smiling, as he filled a bucket with maple nut clusters, macaroons, and York peppermint patties.

Rounding the corner, POTUS saw another long candy counter and said, “It just goes on forever.”

After putting more sweets in his bucket, he petted a little black dog that looked like a miniature version of Bo. “Bo says hi,” he said to the dog’s owner.

As cameras flashed, a group of girls mugged behind POTUS, prompting him to ask, “are you guys making rabbit ears behind me?”

Then it was time to heft a baby – in this case one-year-old Mason Wainwright….

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West Wilkes High School in Millers Creek, North Carolina – original video here

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OffTheCharts: We previously described the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) as one of the “most effective pieces of anti-poverty legislation in decades,” saying its temporary expansion of the safety net kept 4.5 million people out of poverty in 2009. Actually, the impact was greater than we thought.

We now know that, when one follows recommendations from the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) on how to measure poverty more comprehensively, seven of ARRA’s provisions kept more than 6 million Americans above the NAS poverty line – that is, out of poverty – in 2009.

Maddow Blog: Tina McGrevy writes from Springfield, Ohio: “My husband, a former Republican and voter of John McCain, stands next to the sign he placed in our front lawn. During our 15 years of marriage, our votes have just cancelled each other out. Thank you Gov. John Kasich for finally bringing us together, politically. We brought our early ballots to the Election Board on Charlie’s birthday as he will be out of state on Election Day. They were identical.”

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Steve Benen: For folks below a certain age, Robert Bork’s name is probably only vaguely familiar. Ronald Reagan nominated the right-wing jurist to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1987, launching one of the fiercest and most important nomination fights in generations. Bork, by the way, lost that fight – the Senate concluded his ideology was simply too extreme for the high court.

That was the correct call. Bork had, after all, endorsed Jim Crow-era poll taxes, condemned portions of the Civil Rights Act banning discrimination in public accommodations, and argued against extending the equal protection of the 14th Amendment to women, among other things.

A quarter-century later, it’s not news that Bork is still an extremist … the salience here comes with appreciating what Bork is currently up to …. Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney chose Bork to serve as the co-chair of his “Judicial Advisory Committee.”

From the “It was a good idea at the time” file comes this photo from the Boston Globe of Mitt Romney during his Bain Capital days. Look at all that cash Romney and the fellas are flashing…..

Folks are demonstrating all over the country – the world, now – under the “Occupy Wall Street” banner. They are protesting the excesses of corporations and the yawning economic divide, among a slew of other things. They might be out of work, burdened with debt or fearful that playing by the rules no longer means anything. The 99 percent are enraged by the 1 percent – and this photo is emblematic of why.

10:30: Delivers remarks at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Virginia. The President will be joined by First Lady Michelle Obama. As part of her Joining Forces initiative, the First Lady will announce a major private sector commitment to hire veterans and military spouses.

2:40: The President speaks to fire fighters at Fire Station 9 North Chesterfield, VA

Also on Wednesday, the First Lady and Dr Jill Biden travel to Game One of the World Series in St. Louis, Missouri where they will promote Joining Forces and MLB’s Welcome Back Veterans program. Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden will join representatives from MLB and the St. Louis Cardinals in hosting a military families appreciation event at the St. Louis Veterans Center.

7:45: Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden will participate in a special pre-game ceremony with veterans and military families at Busch Stadium. Game One of the World Series will be broadcast live on FOX starting at 7:30.

Prior to the game, Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden will answer questions on the Joining Forces initiative submitted by MLB fans through Facebook and Twitter. People around the country can submit questions for Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden through MLB’s Facebook page or on Twitter with the hashtag #AskMichelle.

“When the President is with his wife, his humanity comes out in a way that it often does not in other circumstances. The facade of the distant academic cracks open, revealing that skinny, accessible and idealistic young man who is still happily ensorcelled by his brilliant companion. And at that moment, many people in our cynical, brutal and heartless electoral process pause for a moment and remember that Barack Obama is a human being, and they like him. “

wow that is so true. remember how michelle was savaged during the primary but when she gave her speech at the nomination event in denver…everybody, including foxnews (for a while at least) fell in love with her. i think they know this. saving her for the best next year.

Didn’t click to the article, but when does President Barack Hussein Obama EVER give “the facade of the distant academic?” Any rational person that sees him interact with virtually anyone at anytime can see he’s a “human being” and most people “like him” then. In fact, he could very well be one of the most empathic, likable Presidents of all time, so not sure I want to click on that link, since its premise is so fantastically flawed and echos the MegaMedia false narrative about President Obama.

bonkers, I understand what you’re saying and yeah, truth be told, that last sentence does go with the popular meme put out by the MSM, but do click and read. It’s a heartwarming article about them as a couple.

Agreed. President Obama has absolutely zero problems in the likability area. Look at the faces at each and every appearance. Look at all the hands reaching out to shake his hand, to touch him. His humanity and compassion are always in evidence and people feel it. He’s the very definition of charismatic, appealing to the max, and recognized as such by all but the most cynical and hateful.

As the Brits would say, Hear, Hear, Bonkers! This manufactured media meme of the President as a “distant academic” has absolutely no basis in reality! The President’s humanity is always on display: whether he is alone or he is with the first lady. I am sorry, but I’ve had it with the Obama bashers who are always eager to manufacture some pettiness to bash him with.

The false premise many of these know-alls take on in trying to tell the president how to do every thing from campaigning to presiding over the great task of leading the country and the world, is idiotic!!!

I agree with you. Although Michelle is a fabulous person, wife, mother, and First Lady, I have never gotten the feeling that President Obama was an “aloof” professorial type. It is just another meme to diss this president. I have always admired the chemistry between them so her going on the campaign trail with him will be a plus.

Also, looking at this video, I cannot imagine anyone waiting for hours to get a ticket to see Mitt Romney.

I have to say I don’t think there is a single moment when his humanity is not fully evident. Yes, he shines when Michelle is around, but he’s no slouch when she isn’t. Just look at the enthusiasm he showed AND got from the crowd today and every day he’s on the road.

I don’t agree with the premise of the article. I think media types are assuming the way he treats them is the way he is with everyone. He maintains a professional distance from those jackals, for good reason I might add, but he is warm, friendly, very personable and engaging with everyone else. Also, they have young children at home who need to have at least one parent around as much as possible, although I am certain Mrs. Robinson is exceptional at filling the void on those rare times when they are both on the road.

Oh gawd, the mother of all wrap ups. Thank you Chipsticks for this wall to wall coverage of our Beloved President’s Bus Tour. Thank you John Kasich for converting that Republican to a democrat. One more vote for PBO in 2012😆🙂

Sherijr- those chicks were just goofing off, I saw an earlier pic of them. Oh I would linky to Politico- but you might catch a virus Chip…so Ben Smith decides that the photo of Romney with money LITERALLY coming out of his clothes is no big deal because David Cameron of the UK had a pic with college mates of his and they were wearing fishtails and Cameron won his election. Obviously, he got chewed out in the comments section—but it goes to show you the desperation of trying to nullify anything wrong with Romney, so the MSM can lay groundwork for Romney V Obama. It has to suck for them that the Pres gets 9% positive coverage, still in mid 40s approval, yet his kicking ass and taking names when he is paired up with any GOP contender. Today Assmussen had Cain beating the Pres- file that one under *When PIGS fly*

I didn’t read Smith, but if he’s dismissing the potential impact of the Romney photo on the basis of Cameron winning his election, despite this…

…. then, he’s clueless.

First, the British Labour Party had been in power for 13 years, including the spell that saw the economy collapse, the public had grown weary of them, hated the wars the Labour government had involved them in, and had absolutely no time for PM Gordon Brown – so it was completely inevitable that the Conservatives would win that election. Because they hadn’t been in power for so long, they were absolved of all blame for the state of the economy.

The thing is, they didn’t win an overall majority, they had to go in coalition with the Lib Dems, which was a pretty spectacular display of the people’s uncertainty about Cameron.

I doubt if the photo contributed to that, it probably just confirmed what everyone already knew, that the Conservatives are run by privileged toffs. But Cameron went to amazing lengths to try and stop it being published, it didn’t exactly help his efforts to try to look like ‘a man of the people’. Which he’s not – and never will be.

But for Smith to make out that election was some kind of personal success for Cameron is nonsense, considering what had happened the economy and Brown’s unpopularity, he should have won a landslide.

The problem for Romney is completely different, that photo is so utterly vulgar, at a time when the 1% he represents aren’t exactly loved, I have a feeling it is going to hurt him big time. It simply shows him to be part of that ugly, greedy, narcissistic breed of creatures who brought the economy down, and laughed in the faces of the middle class while doing it. The “corporations are people too” video and that photo will, I think, seriously damage him if he wins the nomination.

*THIS *CHIPS* THIS* Hell any commercial the Obama team makes..just end with this pic. If it is about education, the script can go like this
“Mitt Romney doesn’t care about your kids’ education….he is too busy counting his money”Insert Picture
Environmentalism
” The only thing green Mitt Romney ever cared about…was his money” Insert Picture

“Looking at this old picture of Mitt Romney, looking every bit the corporate raider, you sort of wonder how he could ever be elected to anything.

But the photograph reminded me of another deeply stereotypical bit of class-war fodder (and if anything can be called “class war,” it’s this) that didn’t seem to slow down its subject: The notorious photograph of David Cameron in tails, posed (back row, second from left) with his Bullingdon Club cronies:

*shows pic- I can’t find on web*

And then ends by saying this “If that’s not fatal, I’m not sure what black and white image of plutocracy could be.” What a moron.

I think they are similar as far as economic policy goes but the right wing religious freakiness of some Republican voters is not part of the British Conservative platform. It just doesn’t translate.

The Tories basically represent the rich and everybody knows it. There are some “upwardly mobile” types who vote Conservative for the snob value. That might be unfair but it’s my opinion. Also the angry militaristic types.

Tony Blair really killed the Labour party with his eagerness to get involved in Iraq. Ah well. I had hoped that the Lib Dems would form a coalition with Labour and was quite disappointed that they went with the Conservatives.

Hiya WoS, you’re absolutely right, that religious “freakiness” –😆 – is definitely not a British Tory thing, their God is money and power. That’s their bond with the GOP. George Osborne, that loathsome Chancellor of the Exchequer, reminds me so much of Cantor, I’m convinced they’re twins who were separated at birth! Identical ideology.

And you’re completely right about the ‘snob’ thing’, I truly have lost track of the number of people I know in Britain who vote Tory because they reckon it distances them from the working class, lifts them to a ‘higher’ social plane. So depressing.

Gosh, you are beautiful! What a great article. You are one special lady. Being a part of this community is beyond words what it means to me. I really hope we can all meet at the next Inauguartion for a special TOD party. I just want to give everyone a hug and tell you what you all have meant to me, especially Chips!!!!

Great write up, Donna. I read a few of the comments and one was from someone overseas, lamenting that people like him/her can’t participate in the fundraising. Just goes to show how wide spread the support is for our President.

Congressman Barney Frank is on Rachel Maddow Show right now making some very good points about the Occupy Wall Street protesters. Barney said he wished these folks had been around when he was fighting for the Dodd-Frank legislation. He said protests are good to bring attention to an issue, but people need to lobby congress and VOTE. This is a very good segment. The demonstrations have to lead to political action. OCCUPYTHEVOTING BOOTH. HE SAID DON’T BLAME ME FOR THE CONSEQUENCES OF YOU NOT VOTING….

anyone catch Barney Frank on Rachel Maddow just now? he basically told Rachel, that he supports the OWS movement, but the teaparty is powerful because they also took political action. Mr. Frank said that the reason why the GOP congress are full subsidiaries to the Tea Party Movement is becasue the Tea Party voted and they lobby people. which led to current GOP members to be “afraid” to stand up cause they may be primaried.

Mr Frank was a great interview, Rachel did a lot of talking over him, and kinda tried to make it seem like Barney was saying that the rallying is not useful, but Frank quickly told her that’s not what he was saying. He said that the rallying and protesting was good, but that it needs to also be felt at the voting booth…

Anyway, I thought it was a good segment. if anyone finds the video later, I’ll post.

Rachel and a lot of the professional left seem to believe protesting is all about waving signs and being angry. That is a good feeling; get you lots of attention and makes you believe you are doing something. But after the sun sets, you have to do more to make sure you hold someone accountable. And that means VOTING and making sure you stay on top of those elected officials.

And I hate to vocalize this but I feel I have to: the ones who did not vote in 2010 need to realize they are part of the problem because they have not been paying attention and did not vote.

I was very happy to hear Rep. Frank tell Rachel that it is fine to protest, but at a point you must bring your point to the channel where it will count in the end..take it to the Congress, those who will legislate the laws. Take it to the Representatives and Senators offices in your hometowns and in Washington(if possible) where your voice will get the power that it needs to make your changes. He made a great point. Rachel had to back off.

A group of us had to go to the local office of our Rep. in Cali., to make our point. We wrote down our concerns and we asked for a copy to be sent to the Washington office as we stood there. So we had three copies in the files. Yes, we had held a protest in front of the office, but the office people thought that we were just going to get tired and soon leave after a week. We had our plans beforehand. We had planned to march in front of his office, and then come back later and request politely that our requests be faxed to his Washington office, and I then made a phone call from my Blackberry while this was going on and spoke with someone in his Washington office . I told the young man that I was sitting in his Cali. office at that moment along with my friends (the young man was surprised) making our concerns known via a letter format. It worked. We also told the office people that we would be back at the end of the month and would be watching tv to see how he was going to vote on the issue.

I do understand Rep. Frank’s point to Rachel. Great point. Know what you want to be the outcome(on your side) of the protest, and be ready for the followup plan to be put in place at the very appropriate time. We will get it done. I have faith in my wonderful young people. I also have faith in my senior friends who have fought the fight all of our lives. You hurt, have set backs, but you keep trying and do not give in or up. The door will open , if you just keep perseverance at the front of your agenda. Remember how POB told us he finally got FLOTUS.HZ

OK, so that imbecile Michelle Bachmann just had some sort of “TeleTownHall” with that idiot Donald Trump (now, there’s a real disgusting duo) and David Corn was invited so he tweeted the whole thing. OMG, it is absolutely beyond stupid:

The gentleman interviewed at the rally at the high school was stellar! This Jobs Tour is making the contrast very clear between the President’s view of the future and the republicans’ unprecedented opposition. He was fired up and ready to go!

I am sick and tired of Bill Clinton. Former presidents (particularly of the same party) usually behave with dignity and will only offer opinions when asked. Clinton cannot control his overweaning ego and still thinks of himself as some superior being entitled to adulation. It sickens me when people actually give it to him. I blame him entirely for the troubles Al Gore faced in 2000. Because BC couldn’t control his appetites, Gore was put in the position of having to run against him and Clinton did nothing to help. As a result we got Bush and 8 nightmarish years. Clinton literally can’t hold a candle to Barack Obama and he should have the good sense to know when it’s time to ride off into the sunset, hopefully for a very, very long trip.

I think Bill Clinton still hold a grudge that President Obama had the audacity to run against his wife and bit her! I have the utmost respect for Hillary Clinton and the excellent job she is doing as SoS. But, I have not been very happy with some of the antics of Bill Clinton who was totally silent during the Presidency of George W. Bush.

Amazing wrap-up Chips! Thank you for all of it! The feeling of the AP image of the young women side by side looking at the President with excitement and admiration reminds me of images taken of teens when the Beatles when they made their debut on the Ed Sullivan Show!

“As he made his way toward the press, Peter Nicholas of the LA Times said to him: “You won’t find this in the White House garden, Mr. President.”

“On Halloween, the First Lady doesn’t mind,” he replied, smiling, as he filled a bucket with maple nut clusters, macaroons, and York peppermint patties.

Rounding the corner, POTUS saw another long candy counter and said, “It just goes on forever.”

“it just goes on forever.” I am not sure in that last line if he was referring to the candy counter or the reliable pettiness of reporters who say stupid things like “you won’t find this in the White House garden, Mr. President” in a candy shop a few weeks before Halloween. You won’t find real journalism in the White House press pool thanks to reporters like you. Work on that.

So McCain and the Republicans are not please with the President bus tour. To that I say who cares. It’s even more of a reason for him to do it, because they don’t like it. They want him to be sitting around in Washington taking all their B.S., while they do nothing for the people who are suffering, and while those six clowns run around lying on his record.